Bills GM Nix: O-Line Was "Main Emphasis" Entering Last April

Excellent write up – rec’d even though we’re not regional yet.

I have to wonder, if McNeil were available right now, would Nix take a serious look?

I hope he’s a bit more proactive in the future. Also, he has to believe that there were more than just 2 quality OL prospects. If he’s that selecvtive and picky, will we ever address these issues?!?!

Buddy Nix..I like you.

Buddy Nix is an honest man who is the perfect fit for a diehard football community.

I really feel that himself and Chan included have faith in Demetrius Bell, They have to or they would have at least broght in someone to at least compete with Bell, its crazy how we as a fan base are very quick to throw a guy like Bell under the Bus, he has been here for 3 years, Year 1 he didnt play game, Year 2 he had alot of penalties but really didnt look that good this is his third year in the league, hes had the chance to grow as a player, mature as a person and really become part of the football team, im expecting big things from Karl Malones estranged son this year.

I’m going to reiterate what Brian stated earlier in this thread: I really like how Buddy handles himself. He’s a straight shooter who knows the game in and out and knows what it takes to create a winning team; will that, you’ll probably ask, equal more wins for the Bills proportionally each year? I have NO clue at all, because at the end of the day this game is also about being lucky sometimes, I know it’s a cliché, but I really believe that’s true. If it wasn’t for the fact that Russell Okung and/or Trent Williams weren’t on the board, we wouldn’t based on Nix’s comments have picked Spiller, and seeing how dominant I realize Spiller has the potential to be, I will take that deal.
We found a guy like David Nelson, an undrafted gem, who has played extremely well and looks to get better and better.

Saw this today and didn’t think too much of it cuz Nix has been more than willing to share draft strategy it seems, but this is as good of insight as you’ll get in the media from a GM. As long as Nix can hit on those mid round picks like Carrington, Easley, etc, then we have a chance. We need a LT, DE to make this re-build work, and I hope to God we can find those players in the next 2 seasons.

…we track who keeps griping about drafting Spiller, then ban them from singing his praises if and when he turns into the stud most are expecting him to be. If we’re wrong and Spiller turns out to be a flop? Fine, you can give us a big case of “I told you so.” But you know what? I’m tired of the crying about it. Get over it! IMO, the Bills took one of the top RB’s to come out of college in the past 5-10 years with all the tools to become a Thurmon Thomas type all-purpose stud.

It’s also obvious to me that Nix ranks character way up there. It looks as though his draft philosophy precludes drafting anyone (regardless of talent) with questionable character issues. I’d like someone to ask him specifically why he didn’t consider Anthony Davis? Was his playing grade the reason or was it character issues (or both)? Would Nix have ever considered Dez Bryant?
 
I have read that Nix prefers to pick up offensive linemen later in the draft. This contradicts what he said to Gaughan and what he did in San Diego. Could it be that he prefers to draft interior offensive linemen later but LT or RT earlier? Hope so.

I’m a big fan of Nix’s first Buffalo draft. We now have a real playmaker. Something lamented by many and sorely needed. He is taking the long term, multi year view. Good for him. And he has what may be the rarest quality of all in sports. The ability to judge talent as it translates to the playing field. He’s just what this team needs at this time.

He has been around the game longer than I’ve been alive. He’s been in good and bad organizations, and he knows what right looks like.
Right now, I have complete faith.
And I respect him because he calls it like he sees it, and doesn’t use a lot of “Coach-speak.” Why would he, he’s 70 years old and in his dream job.
He’s gonna run it exactly like he wants to.

So just to make sure we all love Nix because he didn’t address the O-line and was honest about it… Really that is what it comes down to.

And for heaven’s sake someone explain Cornell Green to me? If it is simply a reactionary signing than can we agree that was a poor choice by Nix. Dare I say we would be happier with… Langston Walker.

Deja vu?

nix and gailey have done everything they said they would do

i prefer that nix has a jaded no BS attitude, the southern drawls from nix and gailey are sweet.

when i read an article with them being quoted i just hear the south when i read it back to myself.

we need to remember they are paid to evaluate, i finish drywall and these guys making common sense moves for once in a long time means hey we should give em the benefit of the doubt and trust em for a bit

But after really thinking about this, is it possible he was blowing smoke and basically taking away some accountability if/when this year’s OL failed? In other words…“there were a couple of guys that we felt would really help us, but we couldn’t get them, so we went with our next best option…standing pat. There’s nothing else we could really do….”

By saying they only liked two prospects in this year’s draft, he’s basically telling us that they couldn’t do anything to address this OL problem. Is that truthful? I think that could either be patently false or a major cop-out. What if he had told us that they only liked one QB, but couldn’t get him (Bradford)? Is that supposed to make a fanbase feel better about the current situation and all avenues that they could have pursued? Why bother saying this?

Also, there were other ways to try to address the OL woes, but they didn’t utilize any of them (draft, trade up in draft, FA, trade). Again, why even tell us this? Saying that the OL was the ‘main emphasis’ going into draft weekend, and doing nothing to support that seems a bit shallow to me.

Will we hear something like this next year when QB, OL, pass rush, etc aren’t addressed at all all offseason? I don’t want to hear these hollow quotes when we still have these major problems! I want proactive movement and a front office that’s aggressive trying to get results. Sure, maybe they really did believe that only Williams and Okung were feasible immediate upgrades, but at the same time don’t tell us that the ‘main emphasis’ was the OL and then do nothing but add Cornell Green. After all these years of a reactionary front office and coaching staff, I want this new regime to go out and get things done. If they don’t succeed, fine, but I want them to try.

Please note, I’m not the type to want the Bills to make moves just to make moves. I don’t want them reaching for players. I don’t want them bringing in players they don’t like. I am ok with bringing in what they believe are the best players available. But I also want the problems that have been plaguing this roster for years addressed and I’m sick of hearing all the talk. I want results and I want this team built for the long haul!!! Let’s just hope that they can accomplish these things next offseason, which is going to be a very, very important time for this franchise.

/ranty